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February 17,
2005
[Have an opinion about the issues discussed in this article?
Sound
off in our Discussion Boards.]
By Jessica Inigo,
Stars and Stripes, European Edition
 |
| (Photo by Michael Abrams) Instructor Brian
Morgan times David Loffert, 16, doing sit-ups while Michael
Hendrix, 14, holds Loffert's feet down during a teen fitness
class in Darmstadt, Germany. |
DARMSTADT, Germany — Unfit children and the stagnant lifestyles
that cause them to pack on pounds are the subjects of some new initiatives
in American military communities.
Both military and school officials recognize that weight gain is
a problem among young people, so they’re fighting back with exercise
programs specifically designed to prevent childhood obesity.
Darmstadt is one of the communities taking on the battle of the
bulge. The 233rd Base Support Battalion is offering free after-school
classes at the gym to teach teens how to use exercise equipment
properly.
“I’m a lot happier these last four weeks of going to the gym. I
blow off some steam and hang out and meet people. It’s a lot of
fun and I feel better,” said Annan Morelli, 13, who was the first
and only pupil to take on the new Cambrai-Fritsch Casern teen fitness
program when it started in January.
Three other teen-fitness regulars now join Annan in the Tuesday
and Thursday hourlong gym sessions, along with three students who
started Tuesday to train for the upcoming soccer season.
 |
| (Photo by Michael Abrams) Instructor Eddie
Bonilla watches Annan Morelli exercise on a Nautilus machine.
|
By the end of the eight-week course, the teens, ranging from 13 to
16, will be able to use the gym on their own — along with any others
who take the class. Previous military regulations said anyone younger
than 17 could use the gym only with constant adult supervision.
The World Health Organization calls childhood obesity a worldwide
epidemic. Other organizations, such as the American Obesity Association,
place America at the top of this food chain — owing to its suburban
sprawl, videogames and super-size fast food portions.
“Lately, the strongest part of the body on a lot of kids is their
thumbs,” said Brian Morgan, 38, the 233rd BSB’s fitness coordinator
who helped develop the Youth Services teen fitness program. “They
come home and then just sit behind a computer or TV. It’s one of the
reasons why obesity in America is at its highest level.”
 |
| (Photo by Michael Abrams) Instructor Brian
Morgan, left, does exercises with, from front to back, Annan
Morelli, David Loffert, Michael Hendrix and David Patterson,
during a teen fitness course in Darmstadt, Germany. |
Morgan has personal experience with childhood health problems.
Growing up in North Carolina, he was diagnosed with asthma and had
many allergies. He said that, at 12, he realized the power of living
a healthy lifestyle and has since beaten his problems through exercise.
“These children can make a commitment right now and change their
life. You can tackle any goal if you look good and feel good,” Morgan
said.
The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said daily
enrollment in physical education classes dropped from 42 percent
to 13 percent among high school students between 1991 and 2001.
The CDC recommends more and better physical education classes in
school to improve children’s health.
Military schools are taking the suggestion to heart. Department
of Defense Dependents
Schools worldwide are adding high school PE classes to their freshman
curriculum, said Karen Seadore, the DODDS-Europe health, physical
education and athletic coordinator.
The class of 2008 now has an extra semester — or half-year — of
PE instruction, making it 1˝ years of PE throughout high school.
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